Little Falls transcript., 1887-03-18

that rang strangely to him, it was 90
unlike her usual merry chatter.
| Meanwhile Challoner was packing
up his things, paying little heed to his
companions. He knew Jasper dis
liked him, and guessed the reason. AS
for Bet-lovely little girl-yes, he
would like to show her of to his
friends. At all events, though to-
morrow was his last day, he meant to
make the most of it when Jasper s
/ back was turned. n@
"Good day, Bet" he said, cheerily,
when he was ready to go. So our
sittings ore over. hope you are as
sorry as am! Here is q
little keepsake for. you-wedding
present what, you will" And as he
spoke he put round her neck q long
gold chain. such as Bet had never, in
her dreams, thought of possessing.
She gave cry OF delight. and her face
lit up with childlike pleasure and ad-
| miration. y =: r.. ~.
ooh. tits beautiful-beautiful-
beautiful" she said gracefully. otis
too fine for such as me sir. Oh, lean
not thank you as wantI Look, Jas
per, look! Oh, / must show aunt!
Isn't it beautiful, Jasper, lad?'' ~.
| Jasper's flowers had fallen unheaded
to the ground. whilst Bet stroked the
chain with eager fingers. Jasper,
his brows drawn together, stood 8
little apart from the other two, with
q hard knot in his heart. - -
''Tis no use to such as thee,"' he
said sullenly. "Thees got no watch
to wear ON it, and if thee had, it's too
fine to be Haunting on thy neck o.
work days"
'Thee's tired, Bet," said Jasper on
the following evening, coming UP to
Bet as she sat pale and listless at the
window, gazing out into the night.
NAY, I'm not tired" she answered
adding hurriedly, "Aye, Iam-tired to
death; l will 60 to bed. TITS the hot
sun wearies me. Good night Jasper"
'"Tis something else nor the sun,
I'm afeard," said Jasper gently, try
ing to read her half-averted face. ''If
thee would tell me what ails thee.
now? Maybe could help thee some
| what"
She was silent for a moment, then
! broke out impetuously-
~ want to see the world. I want
not to be here for ever, doing the
same thing day after day till I die
lis poor spirit that never tries to
fly the nest"
'The wings are safer in the nest
There's danger outside for such as
! thee, with thy yellow hair and blue
eyes," said Jasper earnestly. 'It's
| what chat artist said to thee some
time back, lass? Aye, l mind what he
bid thee-to 60 and make thy fortune
by thy 5ace!"
"And if make my fortune I'd bring
it to thee, lad," said the girl, turn
ing to him eagerly. "Thee knows
tits not to forsake thee I'm wearying to
see the world. I'd come back to
thee"
"Nay," he said, stroking her hair
tenderly, as though she were some
frail flower that might fade beneath
his touch. "Thee dost not know what
thee speakest Of, Bet. Thee'd never
come back. Not as I'd have thee stay
if thought thee'd be happier if thee
went. IT'S for thy own sake bid thee
stay. Ilove thee, Bet"
"Tis not in thee to understand"
said Bet.
She rested her cheek for q second
against his hand, then slipped quickly
| upstairs to her little bedroom.
Once there, she did not 90 to bed,
but sat at the lattice window, strug-
Cling and fighting with her thoughts.
In her hand she held the gold chain,
caressing the shining links, and al
lowing herfoolish little brain to dream
OF other pretty things, richer by far
than this.
Poor Bet She was innocent as the
daisies that spring in the meadows.
But in her very simplicity lay her dan
ger. 1t never occurred to her that
Challoner's hatterles were calculated
to do her harm by exciting ambitions
which could never be grati6ed. He
told her she was sweet and lovely,
and that if she came to him in Lon
don he would make her a. lady, and
she should be, his model and that all
other artists would envy. He was
clever, and she was vain. Again say,
poor Bet!
She still seemed to feel the pressure
of his hand at parting, still to hear
his last whisper. IF you want me.
Bet-come. ,"
Jasper7 Oh. after a time Jasper
would be proud OF her being a lady. 1t
was only that he did not understand.
So, as the old clock in the kitchen
ticked out the slow minutes and hours,
Bet sat on dreaming, whilst the subtle
poison OF vanity crepr into her ignor-
ant heart.
When the dawn was breaking she
rose, gathered some of her clothes in
to g. bundle, and crept noiselessly into
the passage.
Once she paused. It was on the
threshold of Jasper's room, and here
some sudden impulse made her, kneel
down and clasp her hands together.
'"The Lord bless thee and keep thee!"
she prayed in a~whisper.
Then she glided, a ghostly figure in
| the chill dawn, out of the house
every moment being full of dread to
Bet lest Challoner should find her.
Instinct told her that he would make
| al effort to see her, and in this she
| was right But she did not under
stand that this huge city, where she
imagined any one could lie hidden from
| his nearest friends, was familiar
ground to Challoner, and that with a
little trouble he would not fail to dis.
cover her retreat. e.Gv
On the evening of her second day
with Mollie, that good woman sent
! the girl on an errand some two or
three streets of, thinking it best for